Saull “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. – A Boxing Bout Layered To Perfection

Foto Credito: Etzel Espinosa- Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

The highly anticipated and much-talked about boxing fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas pitting Saul and Julio in a battle of fan favorites has finally arrived. For casual fans it’s viewed as an interesting match-up that immediately garners their attention, for avid followers it’s perceived as a clash of styles that’ll fuse together for an exciting duel, and for others it’s viewed as a crafty collision of name recognition.
Well, on this occasion it looks like everybody’s right.

The HBO boxing pay-per-view event put together by Golden Boy Promotions has hit it out of the ball park with this show simply due to the solid layers attributed to the fight’s storyline. For those itching to grab a few more May 6th fight party talking points as well as an excuse to fork out the $69.99 for hi-definition HBO PPV, here are some reasons why Canelo vs. Chavez Jr is can’t-miss TV.

A Rivalry within a Rivalry

Foto Credito: Etzel Espinosa- Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Regardless of your status as a boxing fan you are probably aware of the rich history that the sport has with Mexico. The beautiful country has produced many iconic names, legends, and superstars. To name a few you have: Ricardo “ El Finito” Lopez (53-0), Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

Some of these great warriors have not only locked horns with men from all corners of the world but also tangled with one another, enriching the history that Mexican fighters have with boxing showcasing their heart, blood, sweat and tears. The Canelo and Chavez Jr. fight not only adds to the list of potentially great rivalries but has brewed for a little under a decade with tensions becoming palpable.

Canelo hailing from Guadalajara, Jalisco and Chavez Jr out of Sinaloa, Mexico have negatively referenced each other in and out of the ring to Spanish-speaking media as they very poorly hide their dislike for one another for the last 6-7 years. Sure, currently both men are conducting themselves amicably but it’s hard to forget Canelo hinting at Julio being where he is thanks to who his dad is and, Chavez Jr throwing shade at Canelo’s accomplishments labeling him no more than a “hype job”.

Trainers Rivalry
Alvarez and Chavez Jr.’s dislike for one another is only intensified more thanks to who will be in each man’s corner. Around 2013 or so Canelo happened to be asked about a potential fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Saul was quick to assert that he would simply dispatch of the living legend. This caused a massive wave of hate to come crashing down on Canelo’s head and countless fans, especially Mexican boxing fans, to take Alvarez’ words as a massive sign of disrespect. Social media, YouTube video clips and comments & boxing forums erupted with an immediate displeasure for the young superstar.

Incidentally, Marquez’ head trainer Don Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain will be the head trainer manning the Chavez Jr corner. A request from Julio Jr. who asked for a no non-sense, tell it like it is-not what I want to hear voice in his ear. If Marquez were to accompany Chavez Jr to the ring or just show public support along with Beristain it’s a no-brainer that Juan Manuel Marquez fans would side with Chavez Jr against Canelo simply based on his allegiance to the future Hall of Fame trainer.

Canelo’s trainer, Chepo Reynoso discredits Nacho’s and Julio Jr’s bond expecting his fighter to not only win but produce a KO finish of Chavez Jr.

Redemption
Point blank period; with one fell swoop Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.(50-2-1) can reclaim all of the glory that he’s recently lost by vanquishing the great Canelo Alvarez (48-1-1-) on May 6th. Boxing is a conundrum and regardless of his past, Chavez Jr. can single handedly optimize this opportunity to regain every single fan that he has previously let down.

It’s no secret that he has sunk on multiple occasions while navigating throughout the waters of temptation as a Mexican rock star. From losing big fights, getting suspended for marijuana metabolites, having a DWI to flat out seeming unmotivated and uninterested, the “Son of a Legend” has broken his follower’s hearts many a times. If the 9-1 underdog can pull off the upset, all of his recent missteps will be erased & this Chapter 2 of his career can jumpstart with a clean slate off of a big win.

His last name has been a privilege and a gift as well as an undeniable curse and I’m sure he has wondered how much different or easier life would be if it was just “Sanchez” or “Smith”.

Forgiveness
For Chavez Jr, he can reboot his career and regardless of how you cut it, he desperately needs to make something happen; the rewards that await are aplenty. Even putting up a solid performance in defeat should make his admirers welcome him back with open arms anointing him “Our Guy” once again. However, a memorable KO or one-sided thrashing of his opponent could be used as leverage to sign future bigger paydays and demand a bigger PPV cut.

For Canelo, his detractors can finally stop saying that, “he needs to pick on someone his own size” or “in their prime”. Matthew Hatton, Josesito Lopez and Amir Khan were all men that jumped up multiple divisions from their ideal weight class to face Alvarez; it was almost certain that he would knock them down or out, only question was just a matter of what round. Shane Mosley, Alfredo Angulo, and Miguel Cotto were past their better days when they stepped in the ring with Canelo therefore, those victories were all tainted with a “what if?” In their better days those boxers would’ve surely given him real problems so the versions that he battled were less competitive shells of their former selves.

Chavez Jr. will be the first man that Canelo faces who will have every physical advantage; Julio is 6’1’’ tall and brings a 73-inch arm length into the ring to Canelo’s 5’9’’ frame and reach of 70.5 inches. The match is at a contracted catch weight of 164.5lbs or 10 pounds above junior middleweight. In past outings as a 154-pound fighter Canelo rehydrated to roughly 165-170lbs while Chavez Jr. has rehydrated in past outings to 175-182lbs.

The question then begs to be answered: what will Canelo do against a fighter whose punch resistance is many times greater than past foes? Also, what mental affect does it have on Alvarez’ notion that he can change a fight with one shot if he has gotten overly accustomed to dominating much smaller men?

Bloodthirsty Fanfares
The last layer of this meticulously designed and mystically mastered affair is truly interesting. Both men’s fans bases are rooting for their hero to teach their adversary a lesson. Canelo crusaders can’t wait for Alvarez to break down Chavez for disrespecting the sport, lacking focus and vision as well as falling short of the love and admiration they bestowed upon him.

They want retribution.
Chavez Jr fanatics desire Julio to bring back down to Earth the man called “El Canelo” and burst the bubble of adoration and affection that they feel he has netted undeservingly. He’s landed Mexico’s Number One spot by default and its time to truly test his mettle, heart and courage.
On this rare occasion it looks like everybody’s right when it comes to this fight and that is going to make for one great night of boxing from the Fight Capital of the World as Golden Boy Promotions brings Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. live on HBO PPV.